Architectural Flashing Supply
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CNC cutting, laser and nesting · Lesson 3 of 4

CNC cutting, laser and nesting: methods and worked application

The nesting workflow from a checked drawing to recorded parts, and AFS's own strip nesting worked by hand: strips across a 48 in sheet, mixing widths by first-fit decreasing, and the kerf on a 10 ft length.

You will be able to: Run a documented nesting method on a realistic flashing job: strips per sheet, mixed widths across sheets and pieces on stock lengths, with the kerf, cut allowance, units and assumptions recorded.

9 min · 9 slides · 6 questions

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The documented workflow

A laser nest is built from the steps nesting software lists:

  • A checked drawing of each part
  • Material, thickness and coating
  • Separations, kerf compensation and leads by material
  • Nest, then the cut sequence and tabs
  • Check sheet count and utilization; cut; remove; inspect
From a checked drawing to recorded parts: the nesting workflowTop: nine numbered steps of a laser nest, from a checked part drawing through material, separations and leads, nesting, cut sequence and tabs, checking sheet count and utilization, cutting and removing parts, to inspecting and recording, with a dashed teal loop from the last step back to step 3 to fix and re-nest. Bottom: AFS planning tools for strips, an estimate: blank width from the profile, then one of two separate tools, the sheet takeoff (strips per 48 inch sheet, first-fit decreasing on sheets) or the quote calculator (a cut plan on stock lengths), and the shop confirming the real cut.Laser nest (industry)1Checked part drawing2Material, thickness, coating3Separations, kerf, leads4Nest the parts5Cut sequence and tabs6Check sheets, utilization7Cut8Remove the parts9Inspect and recordfix and re-nestAFS planning tools: strips, an estimateBlank width from the profileSheet takeoffQuote calculatorStrips per48 in sheetFirst-fit decreasingon sheetsCut plan onstock lengthsorShop confirms the real cut

Nine numbered steps of a laser nest with a loop from the last step back to step 3, and below them AFS planning tools for strips: blank width from the profile, then one of two separate tools, the sheet takeoff (strips per 48 in sheet, first-fit decreasing on sheets) or the quote calculator (a cut plan on stock lengths), and the shop confirming the real cut.

1
A checked drawing of each part
2
Material, thickness and coating
3
Part, plate and pierce separations, kerf compensation and lead-ins set by material
4
Nest the parts on the sheet
5
Set the cut sequence and the micro-joints (tabs)
6
Check sheet count and utilization in the nest report
7
Cut
8
Remove the parts from the skeleton
9
Inspect and record; a fault sends the job back to step 3 to fix and re-nest
Top: industry practice, built from the features nesting software lists. Bottom: AFS's planning tools, which give an estimate the shop confirms.

Sources

Videos for this lesson

What this video shows: Bystronic's own software: importing a 2D CAD file, cleaning up the drawing, setting material and thickness, configuring laser cutting parameters and checking the part geometry.

Video: Tutorial: How To Convert a 2D CAD File to Part | BySoft 7 | Laser Cutting Software | Bystronic by Bystronic, on YouTube. AFS checked its description against this lesson.

Glossary

First-fit decreasing
A packing method: sort the pieces largest first and put each into the first strip or sheet that has room. AFS's material takeoff uses it and calls the sheet count an upper estimate, not a guaranteed optimum.
Drop
The width left over across a 48 in AFS sheet after the whole strips are taken: 48 minus the strips times the blank width.
Cut allowance
Material lost at each cut between pieces. The AFS material takeoff has the user enter it, allows zero, and states the value used.
Utilization
The share of the sheet that becomes parts. AFS's material takeoff computes it as piece area divided by sheet area.
Stock length
The length a profile is bought or cut from. In AFS's quote calculator the first piece on a stick takes the factory end and every further piece costs one kerf.